Mail receptacle



c. A. RASTETTER MAIL RECEPTACLE Filed April 18, 1924 W .INVENITOR ATTORNEY Patented ch. 241, 1925.

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MAIL RECEPTACLE.

Application filed April 18, 1924-.

To all whom it may concern:

Be it known that 1, CHARLES A. RASTET- ran, a citizen of the United States of America, and a resident of Fort WVayne, in the county of Allen and State of Indiana, have invented certain new and useful Improvements in Mail Receptacles, of which the following is a specification.

This invention relates to improvements in mail receptacles of that type which is installed in the wall of a house and which is accessible for the reception of mail matter from the exterior of the building and from which the deposited mail matter is removed from the interior of the house.

The object of the improvement is to provide a mail receptacle of its class constructed with an inside door with connections with an exterior chute lid by which the door will be opened and the interior of the receptacle exposed when the lid of the receiving chute is raised, and thus indicate re ception of mail matter when deposited through the chute.

The object of the improvement is accomplished by the construction illustrated in the accompanying drawings, in which 2- Fig. 1 is a vertical section of the wall in which a mail receptacle embodying the invention is installed; and

Fig. 2 is a front elevation of the mail receiving chute.

The characters appearing in the description refer to parts shown in the drawings and designated thereon by corresponding characters.

The invention comprises a receptacle formed by two box sections 1 and 2 that have telescoping relation with each other, there being a flange 3 on the latter section that extends into the former section and closes the rear thereof. The section 1 is positioned in the wall 4 of the house and is secured thereto by screws 5 that extend into the outer sheeting 6 of the wall, and the outer margin 7 of the section 2 extends beyond the flange 3 and overlaps the plastering 8 adjacent thereto.

The receptacle has at its upper part an extension 9 that projects through the sheeting 6 and the weather-boarding 10. A mail receiving chute 11 is mounted upon the exterior of the wall and surrounds the outer end of the extension 9 of the receptacle and forms a continuation thereof. The outer end of the chute has a cover 12 that swings Serial No, 707,374.

upon pivots 13 at its upper end and is provided with a lug 1%- on each of its lower corners that extend beyond the adjacent lower edge of the chute and serve as thumbpieces by which the cover is raised. The back of the box section 2 is open and has mounted therein a swinging door 15 that is sustained upon pivots 16 in the respective side flanges 3 of said section so as to turn upon a horizontal axis, there .being side flanges 17 on the door that extend into the box section 2 and through which the pivots 16 project respectively.

A stop 18 fixed within the section 1 is positioned so as to engage the inner end of the door when it reaches its horizontal position, the stop having a strip 19 of felt against which the door impinges and which deadens the shock of its contact with the stop. The pivots 16 upon which the door is hinged are located so as to support the door at a point lower and to one side of the center of gravity thereof so that the door, when it is swung from its closed position to its open position and vice-versa, passes over the axis upon which it swings and tends to remain open or closed by its own inertia.

A pair of links 20 and 21 pivoted loosely together have connections respectively with a bracket 22 on the inner side of the cover 12, and one of the side flanges 17 of the door at a point near the lower end thereof, and are of such length as to admit of the door being closed when the cover 12 is in closed position. The links, however, are of such limited length that upon the opening of the cover the door will be swung upon its pivotal support by the action of the links so as to become overbalanced and fall to its open or horizontal position limited by the stop that is engaged by its lower end.

In the operation of the invention, mail matter is delivered by swinging the cover open and inserting the mail matter through the chute into the receptacle. The raising of the cover, through the action of the links, causes the door to open and assume a horizontal position and expose the interior of the receptacle. The mail matter passing through the chute lodges upon the horizontally positioned door in clear view of the occupant of the house. When the cover 12 is released, it gravitally closes, while the links; due to their relative angularity, admit of the closing of the cover without imparting movement to the door. Thus, the door remains in open position until manually closed. When the door is horizontal the receptacle is open so that in the event a large quantity of mail matter is delivered, at one time, or by repeated deliveries, any overplus Will pass from the chute through the receptacle and over the door into the room of the building Without becoming jammed in the receptacle so as to interfere with the further introduction of mail matter.

lVhat I claim is 1- 1. In a mail box or the class described, a receptacle With an open back; a chute communioating with the upper part of the receptacle, including a hinged cover therefor; a door for the back of the receptacle pivoted upon a horizontal axis located below and to one side of the center of gravity of said door; and a slack link connection between the cover and the door operable to tilt the door upon its axis upon the opening of the cover.

2. In a mail box, a receptacle having a receiving chute at its front and an opening in its back; a door for the opening in the back, pivoted upon a horizontal axis located below and to one side oi. the center of gravity thereof; a hinged lid normally closing the chute; and a slack connecting means between the lid and the door operable to tilt the door open when the lid is opened and inoperable respecting the door when the lid is closed.

In testimony whereofI alfix my signature in presence of two Witnesses.

CHARLES A. RASTETTER. lVitnesyes MATILDA ME'r'rLnn, WVALTER Gr. BURNS. 

